Hydrocarbon vapor collecting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A hydrocarbon vapor collecting system is disclosed having an attachment for a gasoline pump nozzle which includes a hood that is adapted to loosely fit over the mouth of an automobile tank filler tube as the nozzle is inserted therethrough. The hood is connected to a vapor hose which, in turn, communicates with a vapor absorbing device. A fan communicates with the vapor hose to create a suction at the mouth of the hood to concurrently draw in air from the atmosphere along with the hydrocarbon vapors from the tank as the nozzle is filling the tank with gasoline. A closed end tubular support having an open end for receiving the end of the pump nozzle extending through the hood is also provided. The cross section of the open end of the support is shaped and dimensioned to sealingly engage the interior of the hood to enable the hood to be sealed from the atmosphere while the pump is supported on the tubular support during non-use. The system is also adaptable to the large storage tanks utilized by the service stations, whereby the hood of the vapor collecting apparatus is adapted for connection to the filling hatch of the tank with the fuel truck filler nozzle extending therethrough. In other embodiments the hood is attached to a vent pipe located adjacent the tank or remotely therefrom. The vapor hose utilized in these systems can be adapted for connection to a vapor absorbing device located at the service station or on the fuel tank truck. In all of the embodiments the fan is provided to create a suction through the vapor hose to draw all of the hydrocarbon vapors displaced by the gasoline tank and prevent any leakage of the vapors into the atmosphere.

United States Patent mi Gilson Jan. 16,1973

[54] HYDROCARBON VAPOR COLLECTING APPARATUS 22 Filed: Aug. 31, 1970 21-Appl. No.: 68,142

[52] US. Cl ..'...14l/93, 141/392 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65b l/28 [58] Fieldof Search ....55/78, 179, 383, 387; 141/44, 141/59, 93, 28 5, 290, 312,371, 376, 379,

392; 220/85 VR, 85 VS, DIG. 27; 222/530,

Primary Examiner-Edward J. Earls Attorney-Jackson & Jones [571.AiisTRACT A hydrocarbon vapor collecting system is disclosed having anattachment for a gasoline pump nozzle which includes a hood that isadapted to loosely fit over the mouth of an automobile tank tiller tubeas the nozzle is inserted therethrough. The hood is connected to a vaporhose which, in turn, communicates with a vapor absorbing device. A fancommunicates with the vapor hose to create a suction at the mouth of thehood to concurrently draw in air from the atmosphere along with thehydrocarbon vapors from the tank as the nozzle is filling the tank withgasoline. A closed end tubular support having an open end for receivingthe end of the pump nozzle extending through the hood is also provided.The cross section of the open end of the support -is shaped anddimensioned to sealingly engage the interior of the hood to enable thehood to be sealed from the atmosphere while the pump is supported on thetubular support during non-use.

The system is also adaptable to the large storage tanks utilized by theservice stations, whereby the hood of the vapor collecting apparatus isadapted for connection to the filling hatch of the tank with the fueltruck filler nozzle extending therethrough. In other embodiments thehood is attached to a vent pipe located adjacent the tank or remotelytherefrom. The vapor hose utilized in these systems can be adapted forconnection to a vapor absorbing device located at the service station oron the fuel tank truck. In all of the embodiments the fan is provided tocreate a suction through the vapor hose to draw all of the hydrocarbonvapors displaced by the gasoline tank and prevent any leakage of thevapors into the atmosphere.

3 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 16 I973 SHEET 2 BF 4 INVENTOR.

HYDROCARBON VAPOR COLLECTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1.Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a vapor recoverysystem and more particularly to a system for preventing the escape ofhydrocarbon vapors from gasoline station areas.

2. Description of the Prior Art There are, at the present time,conditions that prevail at gasoline stations that present hazards notonly to the workmen and attendants, but also to the consumers andincidental personnel. These hazards are caused by hydrocarbon vaporsescaping uncontrollably from the tanks of automobiles, and the mainstorage tanks, as.

they are being filled with gasoline.

Hydrocarbon vapors are created in these tanks because gasoline has arelatively high vapor pressure under normal temperature conditions andevaporates pipe in order to prevent any vapor from leaking to theatmosphere. Such a seal is undesirable because it requires thecontinuous attention of the operator. As a result, the operator is notfree to attend to the other duties commonplace in servicing theautomobile, such as a pump handle is provided with a first conduitconnected very readily, especially during agitation. Moreover, ex-

ceedingly high rates of vaporization occur when the liquid is introducedinto the tank under conditions which cause it to splash either againstwalls of the tank or against the liquid level contained therein. Underthese conditions of liquid transfer, the hazards that present themselvesare (l) the possibility of fire and/or explosion, (2) the fumegeneration which is quite unpleasant to the entire surrounding area, and(3) the contribution to air pollution by the escaping vapors.

Precautions have been adopted in the nature of using rubber or plastichoses to eliminate sparks that could occur, and additionally, prominentNo Smoking signs are displayed in an effort to eliminate the hazard from.cigarette sparks. Although these precautions do result in the reductionof damage both to installation and personnel, the other hazards of fumegeneration and air pollution still remain. Moreover, the No Smoking"restriction around gasoline stations is inconvenient to many customerswhich, of course, is undesirable. 1

A few devices have been proposed in preventing the escape of hydrocarbonvapors from gasoline station areas; however, all of the proposals havevarious shortcomings which have prevented their widespread utiliza;tion.

One such proposal is described in U.S. Pat. No.

2,723,070, wherein an attachment is provided for a.

gasoline hose nozzle. The attachment includes a resilient body attachedto the nozzle, the body having a vapor receiving chamber communicatingwith the filler pipe of a tank. The outside area of the body is adaptedto be urged into contacting relationship with the filler pipe to form avapor-tight seal. A vapor hose communicates with the vapor receivingchamber and is connected to a suitable vapor storage means.

in operation, as the gasoline is placed within the tank via the gasolinehose and the filler pipe, a positive pressure is applied to the vaporsin the tank urging the latter outwardly through the filler pipe into thevapor receiving chamber, and ultimately through the vapor hose to astorage container.

A shortcoming involved with such a device is that because of thepositive pressure exerted on the vapors, a vapor-tight seal isrequiredat the mouth of the filler to a source of compressed air forinflating a seal at the mouth of the filler pipe, a second conduitcommunicating with the interior of the filler pipe to carry out thevapors within the tank, and a third conduit functioning as the gasolinesupply line. A cam mechanism is further provided to control thesequential operation of the three conduits. Because of the complexityand the expense involved in converting to such a system, the apparatusdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,908,299 also is not commerciallyacceptable.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,016,928 also describes a coupling attached to a supplyhose having a fuel line and a vapor lineenclosed therein. The couplingincludes a pair of passageways connected to the respective lines with animpeller located within the fuel passageway. The impeller, in turn, isdrivingly connected to a fan located within v the vapor passageway. Inoperation, as the gasoline flows 't'hrough the fuel line and couplingpassageway, it acts on the impeller, causing it to rotate. The impeller,in turn, drives the fan in the vapor passageway, which creates a suctionin the vapor line to draw the vapors from the tank into anothercontainer.

The main shortcoming with such a device is the costs involved inconverting to such a system. Moreover, because of the low suctioncreated by the fan, anairtight seal is also required at the filler pipemouth. Furthermore, the system operates to remove the vapors from theautomobile tank and the storage tank as these tanks are being filled byinjecting the vapors into the truck tank as it is being emptied. Such asystem has not found favor with the industry and is not used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention obviates the abovementioned shortcomings by providing a new and improved system forcollecting hydrocarbon vapors from automobile and service station tanksthat is easily adapted to present installations at relatively littleadditional expense. 4

The above mentioned system comprises a vapor collecting attachment for agasoline pump nozzle comprising a hood that is adapted to loosely fitover the mouth of an automobile tank filler tube as the nozzle isinserted therethrough. A vapor hose is connected at one end to the hoodand the other end to a vapor absorbing device. A fan communicates withthe vapor hose to create a large suction at the mouth of the hood.

from the tank. As a result hydrocarbon vapors are prevented from leakingout into the atmosphere.

A closed end tubular support having an open end for receiving the end ofthe pump nozzle extending through the hood is also provided. The crosssection of the open end of the support is shaped anddimensioned tosealingly engage the interior of the hood to enable the hood to besealed from the atmosphere while the pump is supported on the tubularsupport during nonuse.

The present invention is also adaptable to the large storage tanksutilized by the service stations. In one embodiment a vapor collectinghood is adapted for connection to the filling hatch of the tank, withthe hood further having an aperture for receiving a pump nozzle. Thevapor hose is connected to the vapor collecting hood with the other endconnected to a vapor absorbing device located either at the servicestation, or preferably on the fuel truck used to fill the storage tank.In either mode, a fan is connected to the vapor line to provide asuction at the mouth of the filling hatch.

In another embodiment the vapor collecting hood is adapted to beconnected to the vent pipe which is located either adjacent the tank orremotely therefrom. The vapor hose connected to the hood is againconnected either to a vapor adsorbing device located at the servicestation or on the fuel truck. As in the above mentioned embodiments, afan is connected to the vapor hose to create a suction therethrough todraw in atmospheric air through the loosely fitting hood and gas vaporsfrom the storage tank.

A very important advantage of the hood attachment is that since a vaporseal is not created and the pumping rate is such to draw from both thetank and the atmosphere, the hydrocarbon vapor can not leak out into theatmosphere.

Moreover, the hood attachment is easily adapted to present day pumpnozzles with absolutely no modification necessary to be done to thenozzle.

Another important advantage of the present invention is that constantattention need not be given the pumping operation since the attachmentfits loosely over the tank cap. This enables the attendant to be freefor other car servicing duties. I

The present invention also has many advantages when being adapted to thelarge service station service tanks.

One very important advantage is that such a system can be installed in astation at an expense far less than previous proposals. This is becausefewer modifications have to be made to the present gasolineinstallations.

Moreover, by having the vapor adsorbing devices mounted on the truck,the system does not have to depend on the service station attendants tomaintain the devices in a working order and to change them as they reachcapacity.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, togetherwith further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood byreference to the following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partlyin section, of the, hydrocarbon vapor collecting apparatus of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view, partly in section, of the nozzleattachment, taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the vapor collecting apparatus mountedon the gasoline pump mounting means;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the vapor collecting system of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the vapor collecting attachment of thesystem shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the present invention inwhich a telescoping vapor pickup is utilized; and 1 FIG. 7 is a planview of a third embodiment of the vapor collecting system of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings,FIG. 1 shows a novel vapor collecting attachment, generally indicated byarrow 10, mounted on a conventional gasoline pump nozzle assembly 11.The pump nozzle assembly 11 conventionally comprises a main body portion13 having a tubular nozzle 15 extending out of the one end thereof.

.The other end of the main body portion 13 communicates with a gasolinehose 17. The main body portion 13 also includes a handle 19 and atrigger or shut off valve 21, both of which function in a well knownmanner.

The vapor collecting attachment 10 comprises a truncated hood 23 havinga large open end 25 and a smaller closed end 27. The closed end 27 ofthe hood 23 includes an aperture 29 formed therein for receiving isusually circular. FIG. 2 shows the shape of the opening at the open end25 with the interior wall section of the hood 37 becoming progressivelysmaller as it ap proaches the closed end 27. In accordance with thepresent invention, the hood 23 is dimensioned to be substantially largerthan the cross-section of the filler pipe 35. Moreover, the top portion39 of the hood 23 narrows to a point to ensure that no matter whatorientation the hood 23 has with the filler pipe 35, a seal is notcreated therebetween and an opening is always provided to theatmosphere. The operation of the apparatus 10 will be described ingreater detail hereinafter.

FIG. 3 shows the pump nozzle assembly 13 and the vapor collectingapparatus 10 mounted on a conventional pump mounting 41 during non-use.The pump mounting 41 includes a lower projection 43 upon which thehandle 19 is supported. The projection 43 also extends through thehandle 19 to engage the valve 21 to maintain it in a closed position. Atube 45 also extends from the pump and is adapted to receive the nozzlewith the hood 23 extending over it. Unlike the tiller pipe 35, the tube45 has a rim 47 which is shaped to engage the sidewalls of the hood 23when the hood is mounted in the position shown in FIG. 3. As a result, avapor tight seal is achieved therebetween.

FIG. 4 shows the vapor collecting system in which the vapor hose 33 isconnected through an overhead vacuum line 49 to a vapor absorbing device51. It should be noted that the vacuum line 49 can also be locatedbeneath the surface of the ground.

The vapor absorbing device 51 can be of any conventional type with theactivated charcoal cannister being preferred.

A vacuum pump 53 is positioned on the discharge side of the vaporabsorbing device 51, with the outlet of the pump 53, in turn,discharging purified air from the vapor adsorbing device 51 to theatmosphere via a vent line 55.

In operation, while the gasoline is being pumped into the automobile gastank, the pump 53 is functioning to create a suction in the vapor hose33. Therefore, as the tank is being filled with gasoline, thehydrocarbon vapors are drawn out of the tank by the suction created inthe vapor line. However, the pump 53 is designed to pump at a speed manytimes greater than is normally desired to evacuate the tank. As aresult, because of the high pumping speed and the loose fit of the hood23, air from the atmosphere is also drawn into the vapor hose 33.Accordingly, this direction of flow prevents any hydrocarbon vapors fromleaking out into the atmosphere. Instead, all of the hydrocarbon vaporsare drawn through the vacuum line to the vapor absorbing device 51 to beseparated from the pure air.

. It should be noted that the vapor seal created at the hood 23 when theapparatus is not in use, (see FIG. 3) prevents the pump 53 from drawingair therefrom which would tend to lower the suction rate for the otherlines in the system which are in use.

FIG. 4 also shows the apparatus of the present invention being utilizedto.collect gas vapors from a service station fuel storage tank 55. Thestorage tank assembly 55 conventionally includes a fill hatch 57, anoutlet pipe 59 leading to a fuel pump 61, and a feed pipe leading fromthe fuel pump 61 to the exterior pump structure 65. The storage tankassembly 55 also includes a vent pipe 67 leading to the atmosphere.According to the present invention, a vapor collect ing hood 70, moreclearly shown in FIG. 5, is adapted to be positioned over the fill hatch57 with the hood 70 having an aperture 72 formed therein for receivingthe fuel truck fill nozzle 71.

A vapor hose 73 communicates atone end with the interior of the hood 70while the other end is adapted to be connected to a hose wall fitting75. The wall fitting 75, in turn, communicates with the vapor absorbingdevice 51 and the vacuum pump 53.

Similarly, as the gasoline is being pumped into the storage tank 55, thesuction created in the vapor line 6 draws the gas vapors from the tank,along with atmospheric air through the aperture 72.

Since the conventional vapor absorbing device 51 has a capacity for onlyone storage tank filling cycle,

gasoline splashing against the walls of the tank 77 or against theliquid level contained therein.

Although a hood similar to hood could be utilized with such tanks,another embodiment of the present invention is shown in which atelescoping vapor pickup 81 has a suction inlet hood 83 which is adaptedto extend over the conventional vent outlet 85 which communicates withthe storage tank 77. A vapor hose 87 communicates at one end with .thevapor pickup 81 while the other end communicates with either of twovapor absorbing devices 51.

v A vacuum pump 89 is also mounted on the fuel truck and is powered bydrive means located thereon.

The hood 83 and the pump 89 function in the same manner as the hood 23and the pump 53. As a result, the pump 89 creates a suction in the lineto draw in the gas vapors from the tank 77 and also air from theatmosphere through the loose fitting hood 83.

It should be noted that the vapor collecting system of the type shown inFIG. 6 requires no modification whatsoever to the existing servicestation structure.

The system shown in FIG. 7 requires only a slight modification to theexisting service station structure. In

this embodiment, a hood 91 is provided to be attached I to a fitting 93connected to the vent line 95 located underground adjacent the storagetank 77. A vapor hose 99 connects the hood 91 with the vapor absorbingdevices 51 mounted on the fuel truck. The hood 91 is also loose fittingto function in a similar manner with the other hoods previouslydescribed.

As can be seen, a novel vapor collecting assembly is provided thatensures against any hydrocarbon vapors escaping to the atmosphere.Moreover, such a system can be easily adapted to present day servicestations with little or no modification and at a minimum of expense.

It should be noted that various modifications can be made to theapparatus while still remaining within the purviewof the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:

l. A gas vapor collecting system for collecting, from the gasoline tankof an automobile, gaseous vapors through a vapor hood and hose, saidgasoline tank having a filler pipe and said system comprising:

a truncated hood comprising an elongated hollow body having a front openend and a closed back end, said closed back end having a first aperturemeans extending therethrough receiving the nozzle of any conventionalhand-held gasoline pump in a vapor-tight seal attaching the hood to thenozzle and enabling the front open end of the nozzle to extend throughthe hood and out the front open end thereof;

said back closed end also having a second aperture means extendingtherethrough for connection to a vapor hose;

said truncated hood characterized in that the elongated hollow bodycomprising said hood includes a non-circular recessed interior surfacemeans nonsealably engaging the rim of the gasoline filler pipe, saidnon-circular recessed interior surface of said hood extending forwardlybeyond said rim and providing an air passageway between the outside ofthe filler pipe and the wall of the hood;

means including the interior surface of said hood defining a rim restsupport holding the hood in place on said filler pipe with the airpassageway continually leading to said second aperture; and

vapor hose extending at one end through said second aperture formed atthe back closed end of said hood for communicating with a vacuum pumpopen end for receiving the end of the pump nozzle extending through saidhood, the cross section of the, open end of said support being shapedand dimensioned to sealingly engage the interior of said hood to enablethe hood to be sealed from the atmosphere creating a suction therein todraw in the gas vapors from the automobile gasoline tank andatmospherwhile the pump nozzle is supported on the tubular supportduring non-use.

1. A gas vapor collecting system for collecting, from the gasoline tankof an automobile, gaseous vapors through a vapor hood and hose, saidgasoline tank having a filler pipe and said system comprising: atruncated hood comprising an elongated hollow body having a front openend and a closed back end, said closed back end having a first aperturemeans extending therethrough receiving the nozzle of any conventionalhand-held gasoline pump in a vapor-tight seal attaching the hood to thenozzle and enabling the front open end of the nozzle to extend throughthe hood and out the front open end thereof; said back closed end alsohaving a second aperture means extending therethrough for connection toa vapor hose; said truncated hood characterized in that the elongatedhollow body comprising said hood includes a non-circular recessedinterior surface means non-sealably engaging the rim of the gasolinefiller pipe, said non-circular recessed interior surface of said hoodextending forwardly beyond said rim and providing an air passagewaybetween the outside of the filler pipe and the wall of the hood; meansincluding the interior surface of said hood defining a rim rest supportholding the hood in place on said filler pipe with the air passagewaycontinually leading to said second aperture; and a vapor hose extendingat one end through said second aperture formed at the back closed end ofsaid hood for communicating with a vacuum pump creating a suctiontherein to draw in the gas vapors from the automobile gasoline tank andatmospheric air through the air passageways formed by said hood.
 2. Theinvention of claim 1 further comprising means for sealingly supportingsaid nozzle and truncated hood during non-use to enable the hood to besealed from the atmosphere while the pump nozzle is supported on thesupport means.
 3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said support meanscomprises a closed tubular support having an open end for receiving theend of the pump nozzle extending through said hood, the cross section ofthe open end of said support being shaped and dimensioned to sealinglyengage the interior of said hood to enable the hood to be sealed fromthe atmosphere while the pump nozzle is supported on the tubular supportduring non-use.